Denver is considering a stay-at-home order as coronavirus cases surge in the city.
“All options are on the table given the numbers, trends, and hospitalizations,” Theresa Marchetta, a spokeswoman for Mayor Michael Hancock, told the local NBC affiliate.
Many counties in the Denver metropolitan area have experienced sharp jumps in COVID-19 cases over the last week. For example, the seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in Denver County has increased from 267 to 389. The positivity rate in Denver stands at 8.5%.
Last week, the state government of Colorado ordered Denver to move to the more restrictive Safer at Home Level Orange. Under this level, personal gatherings are limited to 10 people, and churches, restaurants, shops, and personal services are capped at 25%.
Boulder, Jefferson, and Broomfield counties announced on Wednesday that they were also moving to Level Orange. Logan and Adams counties are already at Level Orange.
A full stay-at-home order would mean moving to Level Red. Gov. Jared Polis put the state under a stay-at-home order in March that lasted 30 days. Under that order, restaurants were limited to takeout or delivery only, people were urged to shop for groceries only once a week, elective surgeries were suspended, and barbers, hair salons, and massage parlors were closed.
